Tier 1 — Beginner: The Newbie

You saw a sick ad and you're thinking to yourself “Oh man, that's looksrad, I should start shredding.” You have zero MTBing experience, but you're fit (or maybe not) and you just want to be as cool as the dudes/dudettes onthat ad. You want to spend as little cash as possible on this new hobby, notsure of your riding style, unaware of where the local trails are located, andyou just want a bike that is intended for relatively wide trails that aresomewhat flat with minimal technicalities.

Green (EASY)

Ideal for foundational skills

Characteristics

• Relatively flat
• Trail width (900mm or more)
• Fire roads
• Some singletrack
• Gentle-gradient (avg. 5% or less)
• Relatively smooth
• Mellow climbs
• Mostly from unavoidable obstacles (IF present, they are 2” *50mm tall orless)
• Unavoidable bridges 26” (900mm) or wider

1. Assembly
2. Suspension setup
3. Bike fit
4. Tyre pressure guide
5. First ride (your bike)

1. Kamoot
2. STRAVA
3. TrailForks

1. Basic

1. Basic skills with Fiona
2. Basic skills with Scott

Tier 2 — Beginner +: I think I know what I'm doing

You've hit the trail; you've tasted that sweet taste of dirt. You thinkyou're the next Amy Morrison or Anthony Messere, but you soon realize thatyou just bought a bike a few months ago. You now have some more cash (heck,cash may not even be an issue) and you've decided that the MTB life is foryou. You are researching about geo, components, and what stoke means. You'resick of green runs (see intended terrain) and you want to jump up to a bikethat is capable of more technical terrain (some roots, tighter corners, anddabbling in some singletrack).

Green (easy)

80%

Characteristics

• Relatively flat
• Trail width (900mm or more)
• Fire roads
• Some singletrack
• Gentle-gradient (avg. 5% or less)
• Relatively smooth
• Mellow climbs
• Mostly from unavoidable obstacles (IF present, they are 2” *50mm tall orless)
• Unavoidable bridges 26” (900mm) or wider

Blue (moderate)

20%

Characteristics

• Some prior MTB skills required
• More technical (loose terrain, some rocks, tighter corners, roots)
• Ideal for a dual suspension
• Moderate gradients (max 15%)
• Variable surfaces
• Rocky sections
• Mostly singletrack
• Average trail grade 10% or less
• Unavoidable bridges (600mm or wider)
• Some unavoidable obstacles (200mm) tall or less
• Avoidable obstacles

1. Assembly
2. Suspension setup
3. Bike fit
4. Tyre pressure guide
5. First ride (your bike)

Tier 3 — Intermediate: I know what I'm doing

Bikes are dope. You fit in and aren't scared of joining your mates out onthe trail. Remember those days of being out on the trail - hoping that no onewas there to see you? Well, you've entered the realm of stoke. You understandwhat you want and you've done the research, but you also realise that you don't need the BEST. You've improved a lot on more technical terrain,frothing for more challenges — maybe a drop or two, maybe a tricky descent(just one though, right?) if you're feeling gutsy. You feel comfortablespending more money on a capable bike, stepping it up a notch.

Blue (moderate)

100%

Characteristics

• Some prior MTB skills required
• More technical (loose terrain, some rocks, tighter corners, roots)
• Ideal for a dual suspension
• Moderate gradients (max 15%)
• Variable surfaces
• Rocky sections
• Mostly singletrack
• Average trail grade 10% or less
• Unavoidable bridges 24” (600mm or wider)
• Some unavoidable obstacles 8” (200mm) tall or less
• Avoidable obstacles

1. Assembly
2. Suspension setup
3. Bike fit
4. Tyre pressure guide
5. First ride (your bike)

Tier 4- Intermediate +: I shred

Darco days are almost here, but not yet, young buck. You'd say that you'rea proficient MTBer (skill wise and fitness) — or at least your mum thinks youare. Regardless, you're ready for a GOOD MTB, if you catch my drift. You wantto rail tricky descents, large rocks, and challenging climbs. You're nowlistening to the ‘NERD ALERT' podcast, because… well, you're a bike nerdnow.

Blue (moderate)

80%

Characteristics

• Some prior MTB skills required
• More technical (loose terrain, some rocks, tighter corners, roots)
• Ideal for a dual suspension
• Moderate gradients (max 15%)
• Variable surfaces
• Rocky sections
• Mostly singletrack
• Average trail grade 10% or less
• Unavoidable bridges 24” (600mm or wider)
• Some unavoidable obstacles 8” (200mm) tall or less
• Avoidable obstacles

Black (difficult)

20%

Characteristics

• High level of fitness
• High level of bike skills
• Modern trail bike/Enduro bike
• Steep gradients
• Unavoidable obstacles (drop-offs, gap-jumps, large roots, and largerocks) *15” (380mm)
• Unavoidable bridges 24” (600mm or wider)
• Loose rocks may be present
• Avoidable obstacles may be present

1. Assembly
2. Suspension setup
3. Bike fit
4. Tyre pressure guide
5. First ride (your bike)

Tier 5— Advanced: You'll see me on TV

Darco days are here — you think you're a pro. You know what steeze meansand you're dripping in it — according to the MTB article that you just putdown. You want the best, but may not have the budget for the best — but whocares. The bikes that you are looking at are C.A.P.A.B.L.E — can typicallyhandle those unavoidable features.

Black (difficult)

100%

Characteristics

• High level of fitness
• High level of bike skills
• Modern trail bike/Enduro bike
• Steep gradients
• Unavoidable obstacles (drop-offs, gap-jumps, large roots, and largerocks) *15” (380mm)
• Unavoidable bridges 24” (600mm or wider)
• Loose rocks may be present
• Avoidable obstacles may be present

1. Assembly
2. Suspension setup
3. Bike fit
4. Tyre pressure guide
5. First ride (your bike)

Tier 6- Advanced +: I'm on TV (or at least on YouTube)

I am pretty much a pro. MTBing is life — MTBing is all you know. Life hashit its pinnacle — you're the local STRAVA legend — or at least on thesegments where it's just you. You know what you want, you'll probably getwhat you want, and you're only a ZIP payment away. You're into the chunkystuff, you frequently shred, and severe single tracks are your go to. Thebikes you're interested in have solid top-tier specs. Do you even needsomeone to tell you this?

Black (difficult)

60%

Characteristics

• High level of fitness
• High level of bike skills
• Modern trail bike/Enduro bike
• Steep gradients
• Unavoidable obstacles (drop-offs, gap-jumps, large roots, and largerocks) *15” (380mm)
• Unavoidable bridges 24” (600mm or wider)
• Loose rocks may be present
• Avoidable obstacles may be present

Double black (difficult)

40%

Characteristics

• For riders who are looking to push the limits
• Trail technicality is for those who live and breathe MTBing
• High-end MTBs that can handle the roughest terrain
• Variety of unpredictable, blind and large committing features
• Features on the trail are unavoidable and should ONLY be approached byriders with an extremely high level of skills and confidence
• Average gradients of 20% or more (max of 15% or more)
• Unavoidable bridges

1. Assembly
2. Suspension setup
3. Bike fit
4. Tyre pressure guide
5. First ride (your bike)